An account was already registered with this email. This sounds EXACTLY like the art museum I used to work for. Something needs to be done now. All voted in favor of removing Weitzman. My generals ..and my highly classified documents. It is a distinct and dangerous part of the problem. The Asheville Art Museum has been remodeled since my last visit. After getting a million or more from the City, is the Art Museum still enjoying public funding? He said an Asheville Watchdog investigative story last week, in which Weitzman was quoted supporting ex-employees who complained of a toxic workplace, had tainted the image of the museum., As a final straw, Saenger said, Pamela Myers, the museums executive director, and a couple of others were threatened at a museum party the night of Nov. 10. "It's financially healthy. Is there not something to this? Huff said. We have never censored or disciplined a trustee for expressing differing views or opinions. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Jazz studies while in Ithaca, NY, opened his ears to. Foster is the Robert L. McNeil, Jr., Senior Curator of American Art and Director of the Center for American Art at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where she has worked since 2002. So California Woke values complainer got the boot for causing problems. But the culture of fear in employees, the morale and the attrition is horrendous., In ticking off Weitzmans pattern of disruptive behavior at Tuesdays board meeting, Saenger, the chair, said, I dont see in any way how this benefits anyone or anything about the museum.. Your email address will not be published. Youre no longer a volunteer.. The museum appears to be "in really good shape," said board member Michelle Weitzman. But, with the revelations coming from this and other articles, I now have to question my assumptions. One must assume that Ms. Myers makes all major curatorial decisions, also. Reports by employees of mistreatment, and authoritarian management should always be regarded and investigated. I, for one, will have no interest in the Art Museum until this issue is addressed and employees are given a voice. Xpress needs help, too. There are two sides to every story. Thank you, and stay well! Its our responsibility to promote the health of the museum and its mission. Is there a record of how many employees have quit over the past 3-5 years? Thank you for supporting the arts! To provide an open, supportive work environment where Staff can thrive. Over 35 people have either retired, resigned or been fired in the directors reign. I showed her where Pam was, Weitzman said. Theyre not hearing. The Asheville Art Museum is the sole museum to garner three Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) Exhibition Awards in the 2022 competition! With the Museums major renovation and expansion project comes even greater opportunities to transform lives through art. We invite you to join us! An outspoken member of the Asheville Art Museums board, the only current trustee to speak publicly about employee complaints of mistreatment, was ousted from the board Tuesday and removed as a museum volunteer. development, and promotion of craft titles and art gallery books. An outspoken member of the Asheville Art Museums board, the only current trustee to speak publicly about employee complaints of mistreatment, was recently ousted from the board and removed as a museum volunteer. Leave, I did. A renovated and expanded museum opened in 2019 in a glass building that is now a landmark downtown, and the museum has an endowment of more than $6 million. Asheville, NC 28801 Mailing Address PO Box 1717 Asheville, NC 28802-1717 Phone 828.253.3227 Art Inquiries For exhibition proposals, information about artworks, or artwork donations, click here for more information. I think well move on with our agenda now. Saenger responded in an Aug. 9 email that while it is important that trustees are informed as to staffing needs, etc., personal details are restricted by state and federal policy.. When will these leaders ever learn that a toxic environment doesnt benefit the institution. New Address: 12710 Research Blvd. As Asheville Watchdog reported, the board has twice brought in an executive coach in 2015 after the six complaints to trustees, and again in 2021 after eight other ex-staffers voiced their concerns to Huff and board member Darren Green. Three of the board members who resigned in May, including Huff and Green, told The Watchdog the treatment of employees and the boards response was a factor in their decision to leave. Give us a call at 828.253.3227 x114 to connect. I hardly said anything. That Myers has brought in a lot of funding is great. I was docent president at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts and because of this had a seat on the board. It sounds like that is not happening, and that is not sustainable. The Asheville Art Museums vision is to transform lives through art, and we welcome all visitors without discrimination. Given these extreme circumstances and the weight of whats happening inside that museum, it is clear they are continuing to choose one person over the health of the institution, Reilly said. Yes, It Stinks, Information About Holiday Water Failures Is Trickling Out, as Asheville Officials Meet in Private. Emails provided by Weitzman show she raised employee concerns beginning in March 2022. Asheville Art Museum. The word used by three former staff is traumatic. , Kevin Click, the board vice-chair and a former human resources executive, said in a written response to questions from Asheville Watchdog that Myers has been very positive about the coaching and feedback she is receiving.. I think this cancel culture has gone so totally out of control, and I think thats exactly what Michelle is dealing with, Zahler said, not recognizing the fact that all the good work that had gone on before, that there was an issue, and because of that, Pam should be canceled. There are many ways that you can become involved and be a part of this extraordinary community endeavor. I totally agree, David. Krider said that she was disturbed by what she had read in the Watchdog story. But that is how privilege rolls. Bill Durr (Ward & Smith) will serve as president of the board of directors with Beth Lane (McGuire Wood & Bissette) as . Youre focusing on me and refusing to focus on the problem, Pams leadership inability, Weitzman said. The Power Plant, a leading contemporary art space on Toronto's waterfront, has lost nearly its entire board of directors, with 24 out of 27 of its members resigning en masse earlier this week.The members who resigned have done so due to objections to the institution's management by an affiliated nonprofit organization, the Harbourfront Centre, and have called for the institution to be held . Pre-purchased online tickets are encouraged; walk-in tickets are also available. The Perspective Caf is kicking off 2023 with a classic bang! Only 6 and under are free, as well as UNC-A students, Members of AAM, and active military personnel, which most of the latter three groups could afford. Katyal: Trial and Conviction of Trump 'Real Possibility in Georgia' MSNBC contributor Neal Katyal said Monday on MSNBC's "The Last Word" that former President Donald Trump w It is up to our community of artists and supporters of the arts to speak up and advocate for our institution and its health, and insist on the Board and especially Ms. Myers resignation. Thank you for registering!Please visit My Account to verify and manage your account. She returned to the group, and Lewis approached Myers. Weitzman and the group moved to the first floor, where Myers was standing with trustee Bob Benites. As Asheville Watchdog reported, the board has twice brought in an executive coach in 2015 after the six complaints to trustees, and again in 2021 after eight other ex-staffers voiced their concerns to Huff and board member Darren Green. The museum held a member appreciation party Nov. 10, the day after the Watchdog story appeared. Please check your inbox for an authentication link. . Alas, Ms. Weitzman is no longer there as a gadfly. David Huff, one of five museum board members who resigned in the spring, said the trustees were doubling down by removing Weitzman. She said that former employees had told her, unsolicited, that they were still experiencing nightmares, PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder] and continual therapy from their experience working at the museum. The museum held a member appreciation party Nov. 10, the day after the Watchdog story appeared. Great work, Watchdog Team. A renovated and expanded museum opened in 2019 in a glass building that is now a landmark downtown, and the museum has an endowment of more than $6 million. A majority of the museum's board has remained steadfast to Myers, the museum's director since 1995, despite complaints by former employees in 2015 and again in 2021. You said to me you will not stand down on this. A renovated and expanded museum opened in 2019 in a glass. My heart goes out to Ms. Weitzman. I will ask for your dismissal as a board member and museum volunteer.. All voted in favor of removing Weitzman. Weitzman, who until Tuesday had also been a volunteer docent leading tours of the museum, engaged in a pattern of disruptive behavior, Saenger said in the meeting. Acrylic and mixed media on board Dimensions. Weitzman and the group moved to the first floor, where Myers was standing with trustee Bob Benites. We have never censored or disciplined a trustee for expressing differing views or opinions. Pre-purchased online tickets are encouraged; walk-in tickets are also available. Im sorry that having a frank conversation that you didnt want to have seemed like an attack. In charge of it all is a board of trustees with full authority over the museum's affairs, and one that operates out of public view, often yielding to the will of its long-time executive director, Pamela Myers. How tone deaf to use the term Cancel Culture here, in Asheville! Admission is now $15 for two floors of art as the second floor just has a children's hands on art room. Benites said he was terribly distressed by the incident at the party. {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}Your submission failed. Tickets are non-refundable. Saenger responded, We do not believe it would be appropriate to share incident reports or security videos., Sarah Reincke, president of the Docents Association before Weitzman and a former trustee, said she believes the board was trying to find any excuse to rid themselves of a Trustee who consistently voiced valid opinions the Executive Committee refused to consider., Reincke said Weitzman was not the person who reprimanded Pam at the party, and she is not responsible for how another person expresses an opinion., The board used the actions of a third party as cause for Michelles dismissal, further proof, Reincke said, of the museums dysfunctional leadership., In a statement to Asheville Watchdog, Saenger wrote that the museum does not comment on trustees who leave the organization., If the board feels it necessary to ask a trustee to step down before the end of their normal term, it is not a matter we take lightly, but with the best interest of the museum in mind, Saenger wrote. 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